Morris tribune., 1887-06-08
TUTTLE'S STRONG WORDS.
SERIOUSLY OPPOSED TO PRESIDENT
CLEVELAND'S ST. LOUIS VISIT

At the Time of the Grand Army EncamP'
ment-The Whole Matter Assuming a
Deplorable Phase-Grand Army Posts
Canceling Contracts fer Quarters--The
Southern Element Much Chagrined.
ST. LOUIS, Mo-, June D. Hundreds of let
tiers were received by the executive committee
of the Grand Army Friday asking if it was
true that President Cleveland would he here
during the encampment, and if it was to can
Gel the contracts for quarters engaged for
these posts The deplorable phase which the
matter has assumed is regretted by every one,
but there appears to be no way out of the diff
ficulty. The president was invited by a mixed
COMMITTEE representing the Grand Army and
the citizens Now the Grand Army men,
WIEN they learn their action has not been
Mdorsed by the Grand Army, say they were
only acting in the capacity of citizens. Gen.
Tuttle of Iowa, declared publicly Friday that
the city would have to choose between Cleve-
land and the Grand Army, as only small
portion of the members would come here if
Cleveland took any part i'll the exercises.
I'VE couldn't have invited him if he had been
Republican president" he said, land We
don't want him because he is Grover Cleve-
land"
Are you opposed to the Grand Army's in
viting the president simply because you want
to keep politics out" -s-
NO, that isn't all It's because the man is
distasteful to the Grand Army. Why, he
has said that the dependent pension bill
would increase perjury, mendacity, and
mendicancy, and, by Cd, sir, he said the
veterans couldn't be believed under oath.
When he said that he knew he was lying 1t
isn't only that veto, either it's all his vetoeS.
We are not saying anything about the vetoes
themselves; what we object to is the insult
ing tone of his language-sneering, and filled
with attempts to be facetious. That's what
cuts us.
But, suppose the president should merely
review the PARADE
"Wen if he does it will be at his own risk.
If he gets mixed up in that parade I'll bet it
will be the last parade he'll want to review.
The Grand Army viii not submit quietly to
having any man foisted upon them. The boys
may all want TO be here if there's going to be
any trouble, and there is a good prospect of
there Icing trouble, too. don't mean fight
ing, but unpleasant things said and done.
know they will have their political clubs here
and try to work them in on us. but it won't
turned into political boom We have faced
the Democracy before, in solid ranks, when
they were behind guns, and we can face them
now when they attempted to subvert the pur-
poses of our organization The whole
state of Iowa thinks the same way.
At the last state encampment resolution
against Cleveland was passed. There
were two or three who got up and had the
resolution modified, but that was only to have
it more dignified. The Grand Army has not
invited the president, not a bit of it. That
has been done by an executive committee
composed of Union men and rebels They
call 'em plain rebels up in my state. That's
the way it looks to me- A mixed committee
has asked the president to come here and
that's all there is to it.
Notwithstanding this, there is large ele-
ment in the Grand Army who are opposed
to this and who will honor the president.
Factions have already formed here and the
southern element is very much chagrined at
the turn affairs have taken. 1t is claimed
that the 500, 900 was raised for Cleveland's
entertainment as we'll as the Grand Army's,
and that the latter are showing very bad
taste.